A Pakistani army commander announced on March 15 that all militants involved in the hijacking of a train in the southwestern mountains had been "neutralized." Brigadier Umar Altaf confirmed the operation, saying the army used "precision targeting" to end the siege. The hijacked train, still in the remote mountain pass in Balochistan province, showed signs of the attack, including broken windows and shattered glass. Armed soldiers were seen guarding the area during the media visit. The hijacking took place on March 11, when militants took control of the Jaffar Express in a remote pass, blew up train tracks, and held passengers hostage for more than a day. The military reported that 31 people, including soldiers, railway staff, and civilians, had died as a result of the attack. Pakistan`s military also accused India and Afghanistan of supporting the insurgents, although both countries denied the claims. The separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which took responsibility for the attack, claimed its fighters had escaped with 214 hostages and later executed them. However, there was no evidence to support this. Army spokesperson Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that 33 militants were killed, 354 hostages were rescued, and the siege was brought to an end. Chaudhry also revised the death toll, confirming 23 soldiers, three railway employees, and five passengers died in the attack and the subsequent rescue operation. Pakistan has previously accused the BLA of exaggerating claims, and the group, which seeks independence for Balochistan, has been involved in long-running insurgencies against the Pakistani government.